The Holistic Healing Source for Marginalized Society hosted The 2026 Free Community Mental Health Breakfast and showcased advocacy, compassion, and community solidarity. Dr. Calynn Lawrence, the organization’s founder, and breakfast attendees strove to diminish stigma and raise awareness of mental health while building community and empathetic connections. In wonderful support of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Illinois, the breakfast presented a well-needed and organized opportunity to advance the advocacy that mental health care is a right, not a privilege. The Holistic Healing Source for Marginalized Society breakfast raised several hundred dollars for NAMI breakfast service, which assists over 90,000 Illinois residents and which Dr. Lawrence graciously supports by sharing her experience as a Major Depressive Disorder and suicide survivor, and with complex trauma, and alcohol-use disorder.
Marginalized communities face what seem like insurmountable barriers to mental health care. Cultural, financial, and stigma-based inequities often discourage individuals from accessing the care they so greatly need. These inequities motivated Dr. Calynn Lawrence to found The Holistic Healing Source for Marginalized Society and signified much needed change. The 2026 Free Community Mental Health Breakfast embodied this mission.
Offering breakfast created a pressure-less space as the service was complimentary. Now people could meet without the common burden of cost. Food is the best way to heal, and this created a safe space and encouraged people to not hold back and speak, and share their stories. The breakfast was a place of transformation. People met each other’s breakfasts with positivity and created a space full of solidarity and support.
Having the event support NAMI Illinois was a welcome addition to the positive things going on that morning. NAMI has been a long time supporter and educator of mental health and its advocacy. Dr. Lawrence is on the State Board of Directors and is the Development and Fundraising Chair. With support of Dr. Lawrence and her team, they not only raised the important work and support for NAMI, but also gave the walkers the information that they needed to understand mental health beyond the time it took to eat breakfast.
With a lot of passionate speakers (list of speakers is below) and a variety of free resources, the breakfast not only provided food, but a space of healing. The Holistic Healing Source for Marginalized Society is a key player for making mental health advocacy available to people that often go overlooked.
The 2026 Free Community Mental Health Breakfast was a groundbreaking event led by a team of empathetic and empowered individuals. We learned from Dr. Calynn Lawrence that the work being done is not just about raising awareness, but uplifting communities. Participants left the event with both physical and mental nourishment. The event stressed that mental health struggles do not need to be fought alone, and the journey to healing will be won together.
Event Speakers:
- Dr. Calynn Lawrence – Founder of The Holistic Healing Source, Professionally Certified Trauma Specialist, Globally Accredited Holistic Therapy Educator, NAMI Illinois State Board of Directors – Development Chair
- Dawn Smith, M.Psych, Contributing Researcher at The Holistic Healing Source, Nationally Certified Holistic Mental Health Specialist
- Jasmin Ford, APRN, MSN, PMHNP-BC
- Dr. Robina Wright-Alexander, Licensed Professional Counselor, Doctor of Education, M.A, M.Div
- A’Shonti McKinney, CEO of Crowned Elites, LLC
- Nikhaule Martin, BPH, CEO of Pour Into It Media
- Brenda Stewart, Executive Director/Co-Founder of Ernestine’s Daughter
- David Chappell, MA, MNLM, CEO of Daybreak Development LLC, NAMI Illinois State Board of Directors
- Rob Mayfield, Professional Comedian and Media Personality
- Delois Dean, Professional Comedian and Media Personality
- Mara Lynne, Human Rights Advocate and Activist
Learn more at holistichealingsource
